Dental plugger.



Patent-ed 00L 23, |9011 R. BLUM. DENTAL PLUGGEB. (Application med Apr. 1s, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Il. METTE /N VEN TOR' l'oberlum.

A0 EVS YH: Norms PETERS co. FHoTaLmw. wAsHmoToN. u. c.

Patented out. 23, |900.

n. BLUM. y DENTAL PLUGGER.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

/N VEA/fof? Robert Blum.

ne: Nonms Patins do. Pnomuno.. WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNrrED 'STATESn PATENT OFFICE.

`ROBERT BLUM, OF CORPUS OHRISTI, TEXAS.

DENTAL mucosa'.-

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 660,411, datedioctoloer 23, 1900. Application ined 11pm 13,1900, semina. 12,713. 111011101101.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT BLUM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Corpus Christi, in the county ofv Nueces and State of TeXas, have invented a new and Improved Dental Plugger, of which the following is a full, clear, andeXact description.

This invention relates to a dental tool of that class in which the mallet is operated by pulsating or alternately expanding and eX- hausting currents of air; and the invention is designed as an improvement on that forming the subject-matter of my prior patent, No. 618,324, granted January 24, 1899.

This specification is the disclosure of two foi-,ms of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accom pan yingy drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the plugger-rod and the adjacent parts, the view showing the plugger locked to permit the hand operation of the tool. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the buffer-fingers Fig. 7 is a similar view of the bushing for carrying the buer-rod which is situated opposite the buffer-fingers shown in Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a detail perspective view of the sleeve which is carried on the plugger-rodand which serves to permit the locking thereof, as shownv in Fig/3. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a modiiied form of the invention. Fig. lO is an enlarged cross-section on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a plan view of the plugger-rod with certain of its coacting parts attached.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the plugger has a preferably-cylindrical body or outer casing 12, into the inner end of which is screwed a cap 14. To the contracted outer end of this cap a rubber tube 15 is fastened, which tube conducts the air to the apparatus. Over the contracted end of the cap 14 is screwed a collar 16, which incloses the adjacent end of the rubber tube l5 and also incluses a closely-coiled spiral spring 17, the

.the casing 12.

collar 16 serving to hold the spring 17 and tube 15 securely engaged with the contracted end of the cap 14. The spring 17 serves as a protector for the tube 15`and permits the same to be sharply bent immediately adjacent to the collar 16 without liability of break` ing or rupturing the tube. The spring 17 extends a short distance from the collar 16, as shown in Fig. 1. u y

Within the cap 14 a bushing 18 is fastened, as shown in Fig. 2l This bushing is shown in detail in Fig. 7. The bushing 18'carries spiders 19, which slidably hold a buer-rod 20, disposed axially of the instrument andiitted with a suitable spring 21, serving normally to hold the rodin the position shown in Fig. 2. Ier described, strikes this rod, the rod will yield outward toward the tube 15, but will effectually arrest the movement of the mallet.

Withinthe casing 12 is fitted a cylinder 22, which is slidable within the casing, but is turned true, so as to effect an approximatelyhermetic connection with the interior Walls of the casing. The cylinder 22 is formed with a number of orifices 23 therein, and these oriiices normally register with like orifices 24 in (See Fig. 2.) When ythese openings 23 and 24 are in registry, the interiors of the casing and cylinder are open to the atmosphere. When the cylinder is shifted to place the openings 23 and 24 out of registry, there can be no passage of air through these openings. It will therefore be seen that the cylinder 22, having the openings 23, performs the functions of a valve in the operations which will be hereinafter described. The casing 12 is provided directly adjacent to the cap 14 with a vent 25, and in order that the cylinder 22 shall not interfere with this vent the cylinder is formed with an opening 26 in the adjacent end, so that whatever may be the position of thecyliuder the opening 25 The will not be affected by the cylinder. opening in the cylinder is commanded by a slide-plate 27,which is longitudinally disposed on the outside of the casing 12, the slide-plate being held in guides 28, fastened to the casing. This slide-plate carries a spring-actuated thumb-latch 29, facilitating its manipulation and also serving to hold the slide-plate `27 in any one of three positions, owing to the When the mallet, to be hereinaf# engagement. of the thumb-latch with cavities 30, formed in the casing directly under the slide-plate 27, as shown best in Fig. 2. The outer end of the casing 12 is formed with oriices 3l, which place this portion of the interior of the casing always in communication with the atmosphere. Within the cylinder 22 a mallet '52 is arranged. This malletis in the form of a piston, so as to be actuated by the air-pressures withi n the cylinder 22. The cylinder 22 is provided at its inner end with ,an annular rib adapted to be struck by the mallet 32 to produce a 'back-action stroke of the pl iig-ger. This rib 33 may be provided with a leather or other cushion 34 to break the force of the blow executed by the mallet. The alternately expanding and exhausting air-pressures within the cylinder 22, communicated from the-pipe 15, will cause the mallet 32 to slide back and forth in the cylinder, and the force of the mallet on the backward stroke is communicated to the plugger through the medium of the cylinder 22.

At the outer end of the cylinder 22 a pin 35 is fastened transversely in the cylinder, and to this pin is connected the plugger-rod 36, such rod carrying the dental tool or plugger proper, 37, in the usual manner. The major portion of the plugger-rod 36 is inclosed in a sleeve 38, which forms an extension of the casing 12, it being joined thereto by a screwcollar 30, threaded on the casing and bearing against an annular shoulder on the sleeve 38. The parts l2 and 38 are provided with an interengaging projection and recess 40, which serves to indicate the proper relative positions for these parts to occupy when joined together. lVhen the projection and recess 40 are engaged with each other, the user of the instrument will know that the sleeve 38 bears its proper relation to the casing. The outer end of the sleeve 33 isclosed by an end cap 41, through which the pltrgger-rod 36 loosely slides. Fastened rigidly to the plugger-rod 36 within the sleeve 38 is a sleeve 42. (See Fig. 8.) This sleeve is formed with a longitudinally-disposed opening 43, from the middle of which passes a transversely-disposed branch opening 44. These openings 43 and 44 may be duplicated on each side of the sleeve, as shown in the drawings, although this is not essential. The advantage of duplicating them is that it would permit the plugger-rod Lo be placed in the sleeve 33 in either one of the two positions. Adapted to turn on the exterior of the plugger-sleeve 38 is a split ring 45, which carries a screw or pin 46, that is projected through a slot 47 in the sleeve 33. (See Fig. 4.) This pin 46 moves in the slot 47 and limits the movement of the ring 45 on the sleeve. The pin 46 also projects into the openings 43 and 44 of the sleeve 42. By throwing the 4ring 45 so that the pin 46 will lie in the opening 43 of the sleeve 42 the plngger-rod will be free to reciprocate, except, of course, within the limits of the slot By turning the ring 45 to project the pin 46 into the branch 44 of the slot 43 the plugger-rod will be heldimmovably in the sleeve 3S and then the instrument may be operated by hand without the use of the pneumatic force.

Contained within the sleeve 38 are two eX- `pansive springs 43,1w`hichare arranged, respectively, on opposite sides ot the sleeve 42 and which bear against the same and respectively against the cap 41 and the inner wall of the sleeve 38. These springs tend to maintain the plugger-rod 36 in its intermediate or inactive position, and when the force of the mallet is communicated to the plugger-rod the rod will move to make a forward or a backward stroke against the tension of these springs. Contained within `the inner end of the sleeve 3S is the annular base-piece 49 of the buier-fingers 50. These fingers 50 extend parallel with `each other and lie, respectively, against opposite sides of the inner portion of the plugger-rod at the point where it is fastened to the pin 35. The mallet in striking the inner end `of the plugger-rod 36 will also strike the buffer-fingers 50, and the blow of the mallet will be thereby cushioned and the movement of the mallet eiectually arrested. On the forward stroke of the mallet it is engaged directly with the inner end of the plugger-rod 36 and communicates this force thereto. Incidentally the cylinder 22 is moved outward, since it is connected with 4the plugger-rod, as described.

With respect to this apparatus it will be observed that normally, owing to the springs 43 and to the indirect connection of these springs with `the cylinder 22, the orifices 23 and 24, respectively, in the cylinder and in the casing will be in registry, and the inner end of the casing will be open to atmospheric pressure. Therefore, even though the current of air be communicated from the tube 15 this current will have no effect upon the instrument. To operate the instrument, however, the plugger-rod should be engaged with the filling in the tooth-cavity, and this engagement will tend to shift the plugger-rod and the attached cylinder 22, so as to throw the orifices 23 and 24 out of registry. This closes the inner portionl of the casing l2 to the atmosphere, and the currents of air in the casing and cylinder'will actuate the mallet, causing it to move rapidly back and forth in the cylinder and communicate its backward stroke to the plugger-rod through the medium of the cylinder, while its forward strokes are communicated through the medium of the direct engagement of the mallet with the plugger-rod. It will therefore be seen that the plugger-rodA is given a reciprocating movement which may be used to perform work in either direction by the application of diderent dental tools to the plugger-rod, as will be understood by persons skilled in the art. The slide 27 performs the functions of the valve commanding the orifices 25, and by shifting this slide IIO Y Y 6603111 y3 27 to the various positions which it is capable of occupying thel inner portion oftbe casing 12 may be placed more or less in communication with the atmosphere, and thus the force ot' the currents of air within the casing may be regulated to regulate theforce of the blow administered by the mallet. lThe operator holds the instrument inV his -hand by grasping the casing 12, and by applying his finger or thumb to the latch 29 the position of the plate 27 maybe shifted from time to time, as desired. y

The modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. il, l0, and 11 diers principally from the form hereinbefore described in that the mallet is in operation at all times that the currents of air are applied, as contradistingnished from the inactivity ofthe mallet shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except` when the orifices 23 and` 24' of such views are out of registry. ln the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9, 10, and l1 the pluggerrod 36 is adjusted manually when itis desired to operate the plugger, this adjustment causing the rod to make either a backward or a forward stroke, as the user desires. The casing 12a is essentially of thesame construction as that of the casing 12 before described, and the cap 14Ca is screwed into its inner end. This cap may, if desired, be formed in two parts and the bushing` shown in Figs. 2 and 7 omitted, the spiders 19a of the buffer-rod 2Oa being carried by the sections of the cap 14a. The tube 15a is connected with the cap 14a in the manner previously described in connection with the cap 14 and tube 15. The inner portion of the casing has an orifice 25a, commanded by a slide-rod 272, and, if desired, this slide-rod may be formed with a slot 5l therein, which may be placed in and out of register with the opening 25, so as tol cover or uncover this opening, as desired. The slide-rod 27a is held in guides 28a on the casing 12a. The cylinder 22a has a rim 33 at its in ner end, to loe struck bythe mallet 32, which works in the cylinder. The sleeve 3S, which forms a continuation of the casing 12a, at its outer end is screwed directly into the casing and has at its inner end a chamber 52, carrying an expansive spring 53, with which is engaged the annular base 49 of the bufferiingers 50, such lingers lying alongside of the plugger-rod 36a, as before described. The plugger-rod 36a is connected with the cylinder 22a also, as before described. The plugger-rod 36 is provided with a collar 54, which is slidable thereon and engaged rigidly with an inwardly-projected extension of a slideplate 55, carried on the outside of the sleeve 38a. By shifting this slide-plate 55 the collar 54: may be moved relatively to the pluggerrod. The slide-plate 55 may be held in either one of its two positions by a split ring 57, having limited turning movement on the sleeve 38. The expansive springs 48a,which encircle the plugger-rod 36, are arranged on opposite sides of the" collar 54 and bear at their distant ends against small collars 56,'.

fastened to the plugger-rod 36a.. the plaie 55 the plugger-rnd maybe thrown tion, as shown in Fig. 9, the outward blowot the mallet will be borne entirely by the buffer-fingers 502l and no movement will be comlnnnicated to the plugger-rod. When-the parts are in this adjustment, the backward movement of the mallet strikes the rim 33a of the cylinder .22 and administers a back-' .ward blow to the plugger-rod owing to its connection with the cylinder. When the plugger rod is thrown inward-by movement communicated from the slide-plate 55, its inner end lies coincident with the inner ends of the bu Eer-fingers 50a, and t hen the outward movement of the mallet will be communicateddirectly to the plugger-rod to impart an'foutmovable cylinder therein, the cylinderhaving`v connection with the dental tool, anda pistonlike mallet working in the cylinder and adapted to strike the same, to impart movement to the dental tool through the medium of the cylinder. y Y

2. A dental plugger, having a casing, a hol- .low member iitted to move therein and having connection with the dental tool, and a mallet working within said member and adapted to strike the member to impart movement to the dental tool through the medium of the said member.

3. A dental pl'ugger having a casing, a cylinder movably fitted therein, a piston -like mallet working in the cylinder,"and a plugger-rod connected with the outer portion of the cylinder, the mallet serving to strike a forward' blow directly on the plugger-rod and to strike a backward blow upon a part of the cylinder,which cylinder transmits such backward blow to the plugger-rod.

4t. A dental plugger having a casing, a hollow member movably tted therein, a pluggerrod connected with the member, and a pistonlike mallet working within said member, the mallet striking directly upon the plugger-rod on its outward movement and on the said member upon'its backward movement, the member transmitting the backward blow to the plugger-rod. v

5. A dental plugger, ,having a plugger-rod or other element transmitting the blow to the dental tool, a mallet to strike the pluggerrod, and a yieldingly-sustained buffer-finger arranged alongside of the plugger-rod, for the purpose described.

6. A dental plugger, having a plugger-rod or other element to communicate the blow to the dental tool, a mallet to strike the pluggerrod, and two buffer-lingers lying on opposite IOO IIO

.7o inward or outward. When'in its outer posiv i sides of the plugger-rod and spring-sustained in position, the buffer-fingers being engaged by the mullet," for the purpose described.

7. A pneumatic or other duid-operated dental plugger, having a casing and valverdevices placing the interior of the casing normally in communication with the atmosphere, such Valve devices having connection with the dental tool to be actuated by pressure communicated thereto.l

8. A dental plugger, having a casing with an orifice therein, a cylinder mounted to slide in the casing and also having an orifice, means for yieldingly holding the two oriiiees in registry, a piugger-rod or other element carrying the dental tool, said rod having connec- Witnesses:

THos. D. WARD, I-I. K. STEVENsoN. 

